The Mile Marker 14 fire, which started yesterday near Lucky Peak, is up to 4,446 acres and is burning in grass and sage in steep and rocky terrain, the BLM reports today. Highway 21 has reopened, but motorists are asked to use caution. Rocky Canyon Road and all trails east to Highway 21 from Rocky Canyon are closed. “With a wind shift and a topography change, the Mile Marker 14 Fire has the potential to spread toward Rocky Canyon Road,” said Incident Commander Lindsey Neiwert. “The last thing we want is to jeopardize the safety of the public and firefighters if that were to occur.”

There are 175 firefighters currently battling the fire, which was human-caused. UPDATE: Late this afternoon, fire officials announced that the fire is now 50 percent contained. “Fire activity was minimal this afternoon, but still continued to burn in small pockets of grass, sage and timber on the northern portion of the fire near Aldape Summit and north towards the high bridge on Highway 21,” the BLM reported. The number of firefighters working on the fire has grown to 195.